By Kat Kanning

Activists from http://freekeene.com attended the Keene Freedom Fest to engage in civil disobedience aimed at gambling laws. These activists believe that victimless “crimes” should not be illegal. So several people came together to play dice and card games for money. Free Keene's Ian Bernard said, “Gambling is both a personal and economic freedom issue. I can decide for myself how to spend and save my money, and I don't appreciate being threatened with a jail cell over my choices.”

Keene Police walked around the gambling area at the Freedom Fest / Earth Day Festivities at Railroad Square. A police cruiser was conspicuously parked next to the gambling table. No arrests were made of the card or dice players. Ian Bernard proclaimed, “Gambling is now legal in NH!”

The point activists were trying to make was not so much about gambling itself, but having the freedom to do what you want as long as you're not hurting someone else. Victimless “crimes” may hurt the individual committing the “crime”, but it's not the business of the state to enforce morality upon its citizens. People should be able to hurt themselves, as long as they don't harm someone else in the process. “Crimes” such as gambling, drugs, prostitution, not wearing a seatbelt – as long as all the people involved have consented to the act, it's no one's business but their own.

The Keene Police took a step in the right direction by choosing to ignore the illegal gambling.

More Photos from Freedom Fest